- $170
- 115 Proof
- 11 Years
- 2023
- Campbeltown
When it comes to Scotch, I certainly do love those peated whiskies matured in wine casks. I love that peat and sweet! And of those, I particularly love the Longrow Red collection. Every single one of these releases has been absolutely outstanding! And of those, I've particularly loved the port finishes!
So, it was a foregone conclusion that I'd be grabbing the 11 year Tawny Port cask when it was released in 2023. While I have bemoaned the pricing on these bottles, at least going in I knew I was going to love this bottling, and, quite frankly, it did not disappoint.
When I popped the cork, I got more peat than I expected. Usually these Longrow releases are a bit more muted, but this one filled my nostrils with a sweet smokey aroma. That was immediately followed, though, by a rich and sweet jammy note, like raspberry and currant. Bright and fruity, and yet dark and rich all at once.
And what I loved most is that it had a flavor to match. Again, the peat smoke was present immediately on the tip of my tongue. It was no Laphroaig or Ardbeg, but the peat notes were certainly there. There was also a certain salinity to it, kind of like a campfire on the beach.
But what made this release a superstar was that Tawny Port cask! This was the kind of pour that you'd want after a heavy Thanksgiving meal (even if that's not a thing in Scotland!). It was like a smokey fruit pie, full of fig and raspberry and stewed cherries. It was unquestionably sweet, but yet almost subtly so. The dark fruits provided all of the sweetness, never giving way to being too sweet and always playfully working with the peat smoke.
I did get some graham cracker notes, and even at times a bit of honey and wheat. That really just kind of balanced out the whole pie comparison. Every now and then I'd even get surprised by warm baking spices, like cinnamon and even nutmeg.
But, rest assured, from front to back, it was that jammy blackberry, currant, stewed cherries, fig impression from the Tawny Port that was the absolute star here, making for one of the best pours I've had in a long time. Damn those stupid prices--I'm stuck just grabbing these Longrow Reds as I find them!
Grade: A+
